Engine-starter



W. L. McGRATH.

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22. 1919.

1,372,306. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

1/ W Z I Wm /7V/77" j 9 5 77 f5 75 i 5 4 r 3 v 50 WILLIAM L. MOGRATH, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, LSSIGNOR 1'0 ECLIPSE Millfiftllhlilii GOMPAIQ'Y, OF ELMIBA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF YORK.

UNITED STATES PATENTY ENGINE-STARTER.

7 7 V Specification cfLettersIatent. m e s m sa, may,

' Application filed October 22, 1919. Serial No. 332,433.

To all whom it may concern." upon longitudinally and also torotate there Be it known that l, WILLIAM L. MoGRA'rH, with afte being meshed with the fly wheel. a citizen of the United States, residing at The operating connection between the nut Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State and the pinion consists of a cylindrical shell of New York, have invented certain new and or cup 8 secured at one end to the nut by 60 useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of means of the screw 9, and at its other end which the following is a specification. through the friction clutch formed of the My invention relates to a starter for startsets of plateslO and 11, the formerbeing ing an engine, more particularly an internal connected with the shell and the latter with 10 combustion engine, and the same pertains the pinion. The plates 10 are interlocked 65 to the drive or transmission thereof located with the shell by extending into the longibetween a prime mover such as an electric tudinal openings 12 therein, The plates 11 motor and a member or part of the engine to are interlocked with the pinionb extending1 be started such as the fly wheel thereof. into longitudinalgrooves 13in the extende 15 The object of my invention is to provide a hub portion 1 1 of the pinion. This hub 70 novel, eflicient and reliable construction of portion is provided with two stops, one a drive of the type in which screw shaft means stop ring 15 pressed upon said hub adjacent are employed. The various features of adthe teeth of the, pinion, and the other a vantage and utility in my construction of ring 16 screwed onto the outer end of this 20 drive will be apparent from the description hub. The friction plates are thus located 75 hereinafter given. between these two stop rings and confined In the drawing Figure 1 is a central secbetween spring 17 and a spring ring 40 tional elevation of a starter system including which is locked in the shell. a drive embodying my invention; and Fig. Within the shell 8 there are located two Y 2 a similar view but illustrating a modiseparate coiled springs 17 and 18, the former 80 fied form of construction. being heavier and of the greater diameter. It will be understood that the embodiment The spring 17 is interposed between the base of my invention as herein shown is selected of the shell 8 and the friction clutch and its as one of a number of forms in which the function is to give the desired tension to same may be'embodied, and also that while such clutch. The other coiled spring is in- 85 I have shown my invention in connection terposed between the shell and the en of the with the so-called single reduction type of pinion hub, and its function is to hold the drive in which the screw shaft is an extendpinion 1n the normal position shown. but

ed armature shaft, my invention is equally adapted to yield in the event that the pinapplicable to the double reduction type in ion teeth should strike the fly wheel teeth 90 which the screw shaft is driven indirectly end to end, thereby coming to a stop whereby the motor. as the nut 5 keeps on moving outwardly.

Referring to Fig. 1 the electric motor 1 The drive is supported not only by the v has an extended armature shaft which conmotor through its extendedarmature shaft Q stitutes the driving shaft of the drive or 2, but also by an inclosing casing 19 which 95 transmission. For convenience in manufachas a bearing 20 for the outer end 'of the ture this driving shaft is made in two parts, driving shaft. w

to wit, a screw shaft 2 adjacent the motor Describing a cycle of operation and startand aplain shaft3 secured together in axial ing with the parts in their normal position alinement in suitable manner as by screwshown,.when the motor is operated the driv- 100' threading of one into the other as at 4:. ing shaft 2, 3, is rotated, with the result that Upon the screw shaft is mounted the control the nut 5 is caused to advance or move longimember or nut 5 which is operatively con- .tudinally to the right, together with all of .nected for control and driving purposes the associated parts, including the pinion 6,

with the driving member orpinion 6 which which thereby becomes meshed with the fly 106 is adapted to mesh when advanced longituwheel. When the nut 5 hastraveled its full dinally to the right with the engine memdistance longitudinally, and been stoppedby ber such as the fly wheel 7. Thispinion is the stop ring 21 on the driving shaft, the mounted upon the plain portion 3 of the longitudinal movement of the parts will (111V1I1g shaft and is'adapted to slide therecease and such nut and pinion, will then 110 v friction clutch and partake of the rotary movements of the driving shaft and the fly wheel will thereupon be rotated. When the engine starts on its own power the pinion will be automatically demeshed and returned to normal position.

The construction and arrangement of parts'are such that the pinion and the associated parts will retain the relatlve position shown in Fig. 1 until mesh with the fly wheel is obtained except that in case the pinion teeth should abut the fly wheel teeth end to end the parts are permitted to yield by reason of the clearance space indicated at 22 between the stop ring 15 and the outermost friction plate, such yield being against the tension of the spring 18. At the time of full mesh of the pinion with the fly wheel the pinion and its hub are at their outermost position tow-ard'the right with respect to the the shell 8 with the stop ring 16 immediately adjacent the innermost friction plate. After the pinion has meshed with the fly wheel and the nut 5 continues to advance, the spring 17 will be the more tightly compressed against the friction clutch, for which purpose the shell 8 which thus continues to move with the nut 5 has sufficiently deep openings 12 to permit of this further movement.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modified form of construction according to which the motor 23 has an extended armature shaft 24 provided with an outer bearing 25. This shaft is-a driving shaft and upon it toward 'its' outer end is mounted a hollow screw shaft 26 provided at its outer end with a. stop nut 27 and at its inner end with a driven head or disk 28. Upon the screw shaft is mounted a driving member or pinion-29 whichis adapted to mesh with the teeth of the fly wheel 30.

- the shaft 24 by the key 35.

i the drlving jhead 34, friction clutch 31 and To the head 28 there is secured a shell 31 similar to theshell 8 and containing similar parts such as the friction clutch and the coiled springs. For instance the clutch is composed of the frictionplates 32-and 33 which form the driving connection between the shell 31 and a driving head 34 which is in the form of a sleeve or collar secured to 36 is secured to the shaft to form the righthand abutment for the friction plates and while the left-hand abutment is formed by a stop ring 37 screwing onto the outer end -of the sleeve 34. The outer heavy spring is shown at 38 and the inner light spring at 39.

Describing a cycle of operation of the Fig. 2 structure, and starting with the parts in their normal position shown, when the motor is operated the shaft 24 is rotated thereby rotati'ngthe screw shaft 26 through shell driven head 28. As a result the pinion 29 will be advanced longitudinally to A flanged late the left along the screw shaft and into mesh with the fly wheel. When the engine has started on its own power the pinion will be automatically demeshed and returned to normal position. In the event that the pinion teeth and the fly wheel teeth should abut end to end the screw shaft will yield longitudinally to the right against the tension of the spring 39, it being understood that the casing 31 will move longitiulinally with the screw shaft.

I claim:

1. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member actuated by such shaft in its rotation for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, and adapted in its longitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started. a friction clutch arranged in the line of transmission of power, yielding means coiiperating with the clutch to apply pressure thereto, and independent yielding means for resisting relative longitudinal movement of the shaft and driving member. one with respect to the other. and tending to move the driving member toward the engine member.

2. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving nu-mber actuated by such shaft in its rotation for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, and adapted in its longitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started, a friction clutch arranged in the line of transmission of power. a comparatively heavy spring cooperating with the clutch to apply tension thereto and adapted to resist relative longitudinal movement of the shaft and driving member, and a comparatively light spring for resisting relative longitudinal movement of the shaft and driving member, one with respect to the other and tending to move the driving member towardthe engine member.

3. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft. a pinion actuated thereby in its rotation for longitudinal movement thereofand rotary movement therewith. and adapted in its longitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started, a friction clutch arranged in the line of transmission of power, yielding means cooperating with the clutch to apply tension thereto and adapted to resist relative longitudinal movement of the shaft and driving member, and a spring for resisting relative longitudinal movement of the shaft and driving member, one with respect to the other and tending to move the driving member toward the engine member.

4. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member actuated by such shaft in its rotation for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a friction clutch mounted on the drive in case such driving member abuts the to slide longitudinally with t e clutch to apply pressure thereto,

said driving member being adapted, when moved longitudinally to engage a part of the engine to be started, and separate yieldmeans for cushioning the parts of the engine part in improper manner without effecting operative engagement.

, 5LAn engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member actuated by such shaft in its rotation for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a friction clutch mounted on the driving member, tyielding means cooperating with the clut to apply pressure thereto, said driving member being adapted, when moved longitudinally to engagea part of the en ine to be started, an a spring separate rom said yielding means of the clutch for cushioning the arts of the drive er abuts the enin case such driving mem without efine part in improper manner fectin operative engagement.

6. n engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted thereon and to rotate therewith, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, and friction clutch mechanism mounted on the driving member, the driving member being connected with such mechanism ositively for rotary movement with the s aft and slidingly for its said longitudinal movement thereof.

7 An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted to slide longitudinally thereon and to rotate therewith, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, and friction clutch mechanism mounted on the driving member, the driving member being connected with such mechanism positively for rotary movement with the s aft and slidingly for its saidlongitudinal movement thereof, and means for limiting said sliding1 movement of' the clutch mechanism an driving member relative to each other.

8.. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted to slide longitudinally thereon and to rotate therewith, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement there'- of and rotary movement therewith, and friction clutch mechanism between the two members, the drivingi1 member being connected with such mec anism positively for rotary movement with the shaft and slidingly for its said longitudinal movement thereof, and rings arran ed on the driving member on either side 0 the clutch.

9. An engine starter rotatable'shaft, a drlvmg member mounted rotate therewith, a contro drive comprising a to slide longitudinally thereon and to rotate member mounted on therewith, a control said shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, and fric tion clutch mechanism mounted on the driving member, mechanism being interlocked for rotary driving of the driving member and for the relative longitudinal movement thereof.

10. An engine starter drive comprising ,a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted to slide longitudinally thereon and to rotate therewith, a control member mounted on the driving member and clutch said shaft for longitudinal moviemeii't'ther of and rotary movement therewith, and friction clutch mechanism mounted on the driving member, said driving member and clutch mechanism being connected for rotary driving of such driving member and for relative longitudinal movement.

' 11. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a ed to slide longitudinall on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, a casing secured to the control member, and clutch mechanism cooperatin with the casing, one having relative longitudinalmova ment with respect to the other, such mechaanism being operatively connected with the drivin member. t

12. n engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted to slide longitudinally "thereon and to rotate driving member monntthereon and to j member mounted therewith, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, acasing secured at one end to the control member,

- and clutch mechanism operatively connected with the other end thereof, the casing and clutch mechanism movement, one with respebt to the other, and the clutch mechanism being operatively connected with the drivin member.

13. An engine starter rive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted to slide longitudinally thereon and to rotate therewith, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, a casing secured at one end to the control member and having longitudinal slots at end, a clutch mechanism comprisin friction plates some of which are ,interloc ed with the casing at said slots, and others of which are interlocked with the driving member.

14. An engine starter rotatable shaft having a screw threaded portion and a plain portion, a pinion adapted to slide on such plain portion and to be rotated therewith, a nut threaded on the screwthreaded portion, between the nut and pinion including a friction clutch composed of plates one set of the other and driving connectionshave relative longitudinal drive comprising a which is interlocked with the pinion to permit its longitudinal movement relative to the clutch and the other set of which is operatively connected with said nut.

15. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft having a screw-threaded portion and a plain portion, a pinion adapted to slide on such plain portion and to be rotated therewith and having a hub portion, a nut threaded on the screw-threaded portion, and driving connections between the nut and pinion including a friction clutch, comprising plates directly attached to the pinion hub, the plates and hub having a relative sliding movement, one upon the other.

16. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft having a screw-threaded portion and a. plain ortion, a pinion adapted to slide on such p ain portion and to be rotated therewith, a nut threaded on the screwthreaded portion, and driving connections between the nut and pinion including a friction clutch, which is directly attached to the pinion, such pinion havin a longitudinal movement relative to the clutch.

17. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member mounted to slide longitudinally thereon and to rotate therewith, a control member mounted on said shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, a shell fixed at one end to said control member, and

friction clutch mechanism mounted on the.

drlving member and connected with the other end of the shell for rotary movement and also for relative longitudinal movement one with respect to the other.

18. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft having a screw threaded portion and a plain portion, a pinion adapted to slide on such plain portion and to be rotated therewith, a nut threaded on the screw threaded portion a shell fixed at one end to said nut and projecting toward the pinion, and a friction clutch mechanism mounted on the pinion and operatively connected with the shell for positive rotary movement and for relative longitudinal movement one with respect to the other.

19. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft having a screw threaded portion and a plain ortion, a pinion adapted to slide on such plain portion and to be rotated therewith, a nut threaded on the screw threaded portion, a shell fixed at one end to said nut and provided at its other end with longitudinal slots and a driving connection between the nut and pinion including a friction clutch composed of plates, one set of which is provided with tongues engaged by said slots and interlocked therewith and the other set of which is provided with tongues interlocked with said pinion.

20. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a driving member actuated by such shaft in its rotation for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith and adapted in its longitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started, a friction clutch arranged in the line of transmission of power, and two independent yielding means for resisting relative longitudinal'movement of the shaft and driving member, one with respect to the other, such-means comprising a comparatively light spring and a comparatively heavy spring, said two springs acting successively for resisting such relative movement.

WILLIAM L. MCGRATH., 

